eFire

[c9]

P.E.I. fire chief scores web bargain

Last Updated Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:12:39 EST
CBC News

A P.E.I. village has managed to save itself more than $200,000 by buying a fire engine on the internet, sight unseen.

Fire Chief Dale MacDonald said he needed to replace the pumper truck in Victoria, about 30 kilometres east of Summerside.

Chief Dale MacDonald says the truck performed perfectly on its first call.

He said he would likely never have found the used fire engine he was looking for if he hadn't discovered the website for Firetec, a Vermont-based company that bills itself as America's largest used fire truck dealer.

MacDonald found a 1983 GMC, which – priced at slightly more than $18,000 – was perfect for the Victoria fire department.

A new pumper truck could easily cost $250,000, he said.

"We never even saw it until it came. We saw it on the internet," MacDonald said.

"They told us how good it was and we didn't even drive down to Bridgewater, Vermont, and look at it because they assured us."

They didn't include the rest of the story...

"When the truck arrived it wasn't wrapped very well -- just some crumpled up newspaper around the windshield. And when I complained about the shipping charge, the guy never wrote back! I'm gonna give him some nasty feedback," said Chief MacDonald.

"Plus, like, the pictures on the site were totally photoshopped. And it didn't come with the hoses. I only bid on the auction because I assumed it came with the hoses!"